Ombudsman drops raps vs Rabusa over AFP 'conversion'

MANILA - The Ombudsman has dismissed the plunder and graft charges against former Armed Forces budget officer George Rabusa over the alleged conversion of funds in the military.

The Ombudsman dropped the charges because of the immunity granted to Rabusa under the witness protection program.

The resolution stated that the complainants cannot question the respondent's qualification as a state witness.

Rabusa detailed the alleged large scale corruption in the military, which involved former chiefs of staff and other top AFP officials.

He said key AFP officials colluded to carry out a scheme of converting commercial vouchers into cash for unofficial expenditures; incorporating discretionary funds into the military budget; and converting military funds through procurement offices.

Rabusa served as budget officer of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (ODCS) for Intelligence or J2 from 1994 to 1998, and of the ODCS for Comptrollership or J6 from 2000 to 2002.